To my mentors...

Happy Teacher's Day!

I remember when I was in grade school and our teacher asked the class, "how much do you think the President earns per month?" Then, showed us a newspaper with a headline that the President at that time only earns about Php300,000 per year. She also asked us, "don't you think the farmers should also earn as much?" And then I thought, they also work long hours, and farm their lands with their carabao's even when the sun is at its' peak heat. Yes, maybe they should earn as much. No, they should earn more than what the president gets. That was how I think at grade three.

But now, I know that the President earns more than what his/her monthly pay slip shows. And the farmers don't get even 10% of the President's salary.

That same teacher asked the class what kind of profession we want. Everyone answered but none of us wanted to be a teacher. Then she asked us, "then who do you think will teach your children?" She told us that parents want their "more intelligent" children to be doctors, lawyers, or priests but they push their "less intelligent" children to be the teacher. She let us imagine what kind of education our children will get if this mentality continues. That conversation did not change my mind, and I still don't want to be a teacher but it awakened me to the reality of education in this country.

Today, I am not a teacher but I respect my teachers so much. And I hope that the system of education in this country would improve. Our teachers, like the President of the State, CEOs of large companies, doctors, and farmers, work for the development of the country. They help shape the innocent minds, mold the character of the youth, and build up a person. In one way or another, a part of every one of us is attributed to a certain experience with a teacher. They shaped us, influenced us, built us up to what we are today.

To my mentors (and to all the teachers out there):

...You taught me not only the things in written in the syllabus. You taught me all about life. You understood me even when you disagree with most of my beliefs. For all the teachings and all the things I learned from you, THANK YOU!

Happy Teacher's Day!

Pagpupugay sa mga nagsusulong ng karunungan! Pagbati sa inyo, aming mahal na guro! 




~~~
“If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.” 

~Andy McIntyre


"Teaching is not a lost art, but the regard for it is a lost tradition."
~Jacques Barzun


"Great professors do not fade away, they remain in the memory of grateful students"